Ellis Island Simulation - Ronald Fulleman

Ellis Island Simulation
What you need to know to have a
memorable time and get a
good grade.
A SIMULATION involves role playing.
You will be playing the role of an immigrant,
•Background from a foreign country in
coming to America
•Needed preparations
Europe in the year 1900.
•What to expect that day
Background
• From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million
immigrants entered the United States
through the portal of Ellis Island, a small
island in New York Harbor.
• They came by ship. That was the method
of transportation at that time.
• Many, if not most, came with their immediate
family, i.e., Father, mother, son, and daughter
• They often left the remainder of their families
back in the “old country”
• Some came by themselves, carrying everything
they owned, in one or two suitcases
European Emigration to the U.S. 1891 - 1900
Note the larger group during this 10-year period is coming from Austria,
Germany, and Italy due to extreme poverty
European Emigration to the U.S. 1901 - 1910
April 17, 1907, Ellis Island's busiest day in
history with 11,747 immigrants processed at
the receiving station
Now, note that the numbers have increased drastically from Russia, Austria, and
Italy due to the anti-Semitic violence in Russia driving millions of Jews out of the
Russian Empire. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, people emigrated to escape
army conscription and ethnic tensions. Conscription where they would be forced to
fight against their own people due to boundary changes.
• Causes of immigration –
– Know WHY you and your family left the “old country”
– Know the entire story
– Be consistent. Make sure everyone in your family
knows the story, the same story
Background
• In your role playing, the year you go
through Ellis Island is 1900
– This is IMPORTANT to know because you will
be asked your age and your date of birth.
You don’t want to appear that you are lying or
crazy! There are consequences…
Needed Preparations
• Research your country. Learn about your country’s
customs and culture with emphasis on the year 1900
• Use books at the library and World Book On-line, Culture
Grams, and our databases
• Learn how to say, “Hello” and “Goodbye” in your native
language so you can properly greet people during the
simulation. You will be expected to know this. Also,
know the customary gestures of greetings
• You must make a passport from your native country
and bring it with you that day
• Get your picture taken for your passport during
class time. A serious expression is required.
Students will only have one photo taken. Laughing
or a poor photograph will have consequences….
• Male heads of the family are required to have facial
hair. We will provide make-up for facial hair, i.e.,
beards, etc.
Needed Preparations
• Costumes required!! No exceptions.
No costume = no points
• When doing research, make note of what people wore.
Girls: Boys:
•Floor-length skirt •Dress pants such as Dickies.
•Simple blouse w/ no images (If you must wear jeans, dark,
or writing black denim, please.)
•Babushka, hat, or scarf •Button up solid dress shirt, long
or short sleeve
•TIE (Please learn to tie the tie
before you come as it will help
speed your entry to the “boat”.)
Optional Accessories
• Boys
– Hats are great for men
– Vests
– Suit coats •NO WEAPONS
– Overcoats
of any kind!
• Girls •NO alcohol bottles,
– Fake furs empty or full
– Jewelry (if you are wealthy)
– Dolls
• ALL
– Props related to your profession, i.e., Baker = baked goods, Wine
Maker = Grapes
– Travel props, i.e., Suitcase, luggage, umbrella
– Note: Boys may NOT cross-dress. Girls may cross-dress, but there
needs to be a reason. Do your research, girls!
Needed Preparations
• Costume must be worn to school, or something
Do not take a
simple to get into by pulling on over your regular
clothes
chance
• Suggested sources of costumes
– Thrift store
– Borrowing from family or friends.
Bring your own
If you’re desperate, there are some pieces of
costumes available at school, but are limited and
costume!
might not be available by the time you get there.
• RESEARCH. You may bring play
money…make sure you know what would
be the appropriate amount.
• Too little, or too much?
• NOTE: you may not get your money back,
so do not bring any that you have to have
returned, i.e., From a game, etc.
What to expect that day
• Report to the MPR to leave your backpack
and check in with your teacher for
attendance
• Go to the Staff Lounge, next to the MPR,
to put on your costume, including facial
hair/make-up
What to expect that day
• As you exit the south door of the staff
lounge, make sure you get a number and
that it can be seen as it hangs from around
your neck
• Then board the “boat”
– Watch for the chalked outlines on the asphalt.
It will show where the gang plank is and
where the water is.
Do not walk on the water!
• Your first test will be when the staff looks you over.
Anyone not wearing an appropriate costume will have to
return to the staff lounge to add clothing.
• Once the boat is filled, Ellis Island staff members will
greet you. They may be rude to you. The lines will be
long waiting for your initial medical examination.
• There are two doctors. You need to greet them in your
native language. They do speak a number of languages
and will expect to hear you speak your native language.
(test #2). It was common for recent immigrants to work
at Ellis Island and many spoke with an accent.
Remember, people usually came to Ellis Island not
speaking the language of those interviewing them. This
may happen to you.
If you have an illness assigned to you from
your class, it must be written on your
passport so the doctors can give you the
appropriate treatment. You may face
quarantine.
• If and when you successfully pass your
medical exam . . .
a.) Proceed to the room with tables
b.) Wait for your number to be called by
the Immigration Examiners, who will
interview you.
Note: If one member of your group is called up,
everyone in your “family” must approach the
examiner together. “Officials” will not know
who is with which family.
Stay together as a family.
• If any of you are detained for any reason,
you must wait for your family members.
Do not leave Ellis Island and leave your
poor papa or auntie behind! You are a
family.
• Answer questions from the examiners, and
if you are successful, they will stamp your
passport.
• Then walk towards the Statue of Liberty,
and exit the building to board the ferries to
Manhattan, NY. (In our simulation, this
means you leave the library and return to
the MPR.)
• At the MPR, you will return your number and any
costumes that you borrowed. For certain
“passengers”, you may receive a prize. The
prize is for students who attended the Brown
Bag presentation on Ellis Island.
• You will then take a modern day citizenship test.
• If you are successful, you will be sworn in as a
US citizen and the simulation will be complete.
• Remember: Only about 2% of the immigrants
who came through Ellis Island were denied entry
to the United States. Make sure you are one of
the 98% who make it through!
Final Points
• Remember the people who came through Ellis Island
were fighting for their very lives. Most gave up
everything they had to gain the freedoms that were
available in the United States.
• You are fighting for a grade. This is a role playing
activity to give you as much of the Ellis Island experience
as we can give you today. We will make this as difficult
as possible within historical accuracy. Government
officials will very likely be rude to you, known only as a
number and not a person.
• You are playing a role. If you speak with a made up
accent, stay in character. Use the native language, the
more the better. We want the time to be as realistic to
everyone as possible.
• Put effort into your Ellis Island experience
• History repeats itself. In your research you
will see that we have immigrants today;
immigrants who, like our ancestors, will
make our country greater for being here.
• We want to appreciate their contributions
and respect their desires and struggles to
become US citizens.
Cited Sources
Destination America. 10 April 2009.
<http://www.pbs.org/destinationamerica/>
Educational Broadcasting System. 2005.
Highly-skilled immigrants still seen as a need. 21 May 2007
<http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/05/
21/highlyskilled_immigrants_still_seen_as_a_need/>
American Public Media. 2009.
Southpeak Interactive, LLC. The Ellis Island Experience.